Apparatus for dividing pastries and inserting dividers

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for cutting separate portions of a food product and inserting dividers between adjacent portions, in which a cutting blade is ultrasonically energized during a first cutting movement, the blade is withdrawn while a divider sheet is inserted between the blade and the food item, and then the blade is driven in a second cutting movement to fold the divider sheet and to insert the thus-folded divider sheet into the cut between the two now separate portions of the food item. A particular feature of the invention is a camming mechanism to provide precise support for and folding of the divider sheet.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/115,324, filed Apr. 4, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,662,529, whichclaims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/325,656,filed Sep. 26, 2001.

PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,148 issued in 1981 to Meier shows the method ofcutting a food item in which a sheet of wax paper is folded about thecutting edge of a guillotine blade before the blade is forced into thefood item. The sheet of wax paper then remains as a separator.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,823 issued in 1992 to Hartman et al shows a complexmachine for introducing foil-like material between slices of a foodproduct that has, apparently, already been cut by a cutting machine.U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,053 issued Jan. 21, 1986 to Browne and Hertzbergdiscloses an apparatus for cutting round pastries, such as cake, andthen after cutting inserting a divider between each two adjacentportions.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,728 issued in 1999 to Giamello shows an apparatusfor cutting food products in which a cutting blade energized withultrasonic vibrations is driven through different layers of a foodproduct at a controlled and variable speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus for cutting a food item into separate portions andinserting dividers between adjacent portions, in which a cutting bladeis ultrasonically energized during a first cutting movement, the bladeis withdrawn while a divider sheet is inserted between the blade and thefood item, and, then the blade is driven in a second movement to foldthe divider sheet and to insert the thus-folded divider sheet into thecut between the two now separate portions of the food item.

According to the preferred form of the invention the blade isultrasonically energized during at least the latter part of the secondblade movement so as to effectively disengage the blade from the dividersheet.

A particular feature of the invention is a camming mechanism whichallows unobstructed movement of the blade during its cutting action butalso provides precise support for and folding of the divider sheetbetween the first and second movements of the blade.

DRAWING SUMMARY

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view showing the presently preferredform of apparatus in accordance with the invention as the cutting bladeis about to be lowered through a paper feeder into the top surface of afood item;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view as in FIG. 1 but showing the blade as it isvibrating and passing into the food item;

FIG. 3 is a further schematic view showing the blade in a retractedposition after the first cut is completed;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the paper feeder as itmoves its suction cup toward the under side of the paper tray to engagea divider sheet and pull it into position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the paper feeder in apartially retracted position after it has positioned the divider sheetunderneath the cutting blade;

FIG. 6 is a schematic elevational view that illustrates the positioningof the cam assemblies and paper support plates before the cutting blademoves into a cutting position;

FIG. 7 illustrates initial separation of the cam assemblies and supportplates and the initial creasing of a divider sheet along a predeterminedfold line that was placed immediately underneath the cutting edge of thecutting blade;

FIG. 8 shows the further separation of the cams and the final foldingaction of the divider sheet;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the cutting blade as itdrives the now-folded divider sheet into the cut previously made in thefood item;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the cuttingblade in a now upwardly retracted position after having completedinsertion of the folded divider sheet into the previously made cut inthe food item;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are an electrical schematic of the control andactivation system for the apparatus;

FIG. 12 is a listing of the electrical control circuit inputs andoutputs; and

FIGS. 13A and 13B are a schematic diagram of the pneumatic operatingsystem for the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1-13B

The invention in its presently preferred form is shown as being appliedto cutting a cake or pastry, although the invention may in fact beapplied to any of a variety of other food products.

In the drawings the letter A indicates a food item such as a cake orother pastry that is to be cut. Support platform D for supporting thecake or pastry A is shown in FIGS. 3, 9, and 10. The platform or palletD supports the pastry A both vertically and horizontally so that thepastry is ready to be cut, as seen in FIGS. 1-3.

A cutting blade which is designated by letter B is preferably integrallyformed of titanium. Although at present a blade with thickness ofone-fourth inch is being used in the apparatus, larger or smallerthicknesses may be selected. During cutting of the pastry or other fooditem the blade is preferably vibrated at a frequency not less than about19,500 Hertz. The blade B is driven in a downward movement by means notspecifically shown, but which is known in the relevant art. In itscutting action it stops just short of the upper surface of the platformor pallet D.

Before the pastry A is cut, support plates C which form a divisibleplatform are positioned in an abutting relationship. The divisibleplatform preferably lies in a precisely horizontal plane, but suchprecise horizontal alignment may not be necessary. During the cuttingmovement of the blade, however, it is necessary to keep the divider orseparater sheet out of the way. Toward that end, according to thepresent invention I provide the divisible platform which opens to permitunobstructed downward travel of the blade between the two separate partsof the platform. While the blade is returning to its upwardly retractedposition the platform C closes and its two parts return to theirabutting relationship. A divider or separator sheet may then be broughtinto position.

A paper dispenser or tray G associated with one side of the divisibleplatform as shown on the right hand side of the drawing figures stores astack of divider sheets F. The paper tray may if desired be directlyattached to an associated side of the platform.

The camming mechanisms H includes means operative during the downwardcutting stroke of the blade for creating a gap in the horizontalplatform C directly beneath the blade edge. The gap is created by twoseparate cam assemblies H which are attached to corresponding separateparts of the platform C, behind feed mechanism and tray G.

The cam assemblies may be more precisely described as assemblies oflevers and wedges. The wedges of the camming mechanisms H are attachedto the rear of the blade and aligned with the lever wheels (FIGS. 6-8).An associated control apparatus concurrently drives the blade evenfurther downward to cut the food item A. The blade edge then stops justshort of the upper surface of pallet or platform P.

The divider shuttle and suction cup manifold, FIGS. 4 and 5, is part ofthe paper feed mechanism E for selecting and positioning a divider sheetfrom the paper supply tray G as each one is needed.

According to the present invention I provide a method of cutting a fooditem or pastry into separate portions and then inserting dividersbetween adjacent portions. First, I select a cutting blade that, whenultrasonically vibrated, is capable of cutting the food item across amajor diameter. Then, I support the food item, preferably in ahorizontal position. Then I apply ultrasonic energy to the blade, andwhile it is thus energized drive the blade in a first downward movementinto the exposed upper surface of the food item to cut the food item intwo. I then withdraw the blade from the cut until the cutting edge ofthe blade is spaced vertically away from the food item, but while alsomaintaining support of the now-separated parts of the food item. I thenselect a divider sheet and move it horizontally into the space betweenthe blade edge and the food item, and then drive the blade in a seconddownward movement toward the food item so that the cutting edge of theblade engages the divider sheet immediately above the cut, and alsocauses the divider sheet to become folded along a line immediatelyunderneath the cutting edge of the blade as the blade moves downward. Itis of particular importance to continue the second downward movement ofthe blade to drive divider sheet into position between two adjacentportions of the food item, and to maintain ultrasonic energy to theblade until the blade is withdrawn from the divider.

More specifically, the apparatus includes a pair of opposed,horizontally reciprocable cams with paper support plates having flatupper surfaces. A control system for the apparatus includes means formoving the cams into abutting engagement so that their upper surfacesprovide a continuous horizontal support base for a divider sheet.

The pair of paper support plates C on their upper surfaces then providea platform for supporting a selected divider or separator sheet F. Apair of cams are slightly separated so that the divider sheet will firstcrease and then fold neatly along a predetermined fold line, as the camsare further separated while an associated control apparatus concurrentlydrives the blade even further downward.

Thus the cutting blade B has a cutting edge that is capable of cuttingthe food item. Horizontally reciprocable paper support plates C providea horizontal platform for supporting a divider sheet. The overall feedmechanism in conjunction with the suction cup E provides the means forpositioning a divider sheet upon the horizontal platform. As best shownin FIGS. 5 and 6, the feed system positions a divider sheet upon thesupport base with its predetermined fold line aligned with the abuttingsurfaces of the two cams.

The timing of the various actions is controlled by electronic circuitrywhich receives inputs from various position sensors, all as shown indetail in drawings FIGS. 11A, 11B, 12, 13A and 13B. Certain specifictiming actions are selected to obtain the results that are mostdesirable or of highest quality.

The Novel Method

According to the presently preferred form of the invention a method isprovided for cutting a food item into portions and then insertingdividers between adjacent portions. The cutting blade B isultrasonically energized during a first cutting movement. The blade B ismade to vibrate at a frequency that is preferably not less than about19,500 Hertz.

The blade is then withdrawn while a divider sheet F is inserted betweenit and the food item. Although the food item has now been cut, the bladeis then driven in a second movement to first crease and then fold thedivider sheet and insert it into the previously made cut. As the bladecontinues its advance, the feeder mechanism separates the cams and movesthem away from the blade to prevent contact with the blade whilemaintaining the sharp fold in the divider or separator sheet that wasstarted by the initial contact with the blade edge.

During the second, or divider insertion movement, the blade isultrasonically energized during at least the latter part of the secondmovement so as to effectively disengage blade B from divider sheet F.Again the blade is vibrating at a frequency that is preferably not lessthan about 19,500 Hertz. This achieves a superior cut, in that theultrasonic blade makes a clean cut with minimum damage to the estheticsof the product before each divider or separator sheet is inserted intothe cut.

While the presently preferred form of the invention has been disclosedin detail in order to comply with the patent laws, it will neverthelessbe understood that many variations are possible, and the scope of theinvention is to be determined only in accordance with the appendedclaims.

1. Apparatus for cutting a food item into portions and then insertingdividers between its adjacent portions, comprising: a cutting bladehaving a cutting edge that is capable of cutting the food item; ahorizontal platform for supporting a divider sheet; means forpositioning a divider sheet upon the horizontal platform; means fordriving the blade in a downward movement so that its cutting edge willengage the exposed upper surface of the divider sheet; and means forcreating a gap in the horizontal platform directly beneath the bladeedge while concurrently driving the blade even further downward so thatthe divider sheet will then fold neatly along a predetermined fold line.2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the cutting blade is capable ofcutting the food item while being ultrasonically vibrated, and whichfurther includes means for selectively applying ultrasonic energy to theblade.
 3. Apparatus for folding a divider sheet neatly along apredetermined fold line, comprising: a pair of opposed, horizontallyreciprocable cams adapted to cooperatively form a flat upper surface;control means for moving the cams into abutting engagement so that theirupper surfaces provide a continuous horizontal support base for adivider sheet; means for positioning a divider sheet upon the supportbase with its predetermined fold line aligned with the abutting surfacesof the two cams; means for driving a blade down upon the upper surfaceof the divider sheet to engage its predetermined fold line; means forslightly separating the cams so that with further movement of the bladethe divider sheet will then start to become folded along itspredetermined fold line; and means for further separating the cams sothat with still further downward movement of the blade the divider sheetmay complete its folding movement.